Improvement in buttons



NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. JOHNSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN BUTTONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 54,736, dated May 15,11566.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. JOHNSON, of Station D, of the city, county,and State of New York, have made new and useful Improvement-s inButton-Fastenings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the same, which Will enable othersskilled in the art to makeand use the same, reference being had'to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in Whichtheshank of a button and with a suitable spring secured thereto in such amanner that by means of the stud the material to which the button is tobe attached can be readily pierced, and by introducing said stud intothe shank and partially turning it catches in the bottom of the shankand is securely held by the action of the spring and by the compressionthereof, and again turning' the stud the latter may be released and thebutton detached from the material.

A represents the button-head, and Z the shank thereof, which is securedto the head in the usual manner. The lower end is closed, and isprovided Wi th a slot corresponding with the width ofthe stud whichenters therein. The inner face of this lower end is depressed in adirection opposite to the opening, so that when the stud is turned afterentering the shank the shoulder of the barb will rest in the depression.

B is a disk or back plate, from the center of which rises a shank, c, toWhich is attached the barb C. This barb is of lance form, withcutting-edges and a sharp point, and is intended to enter through thematerial to which the button is to be secured and into the shank of thebutton where it is secured, as hereinafter explained.

A suitable rubber spring, D, is secured to the shank of the button, andis prevented from slipping od by means of a pin, c, secured to theshank, and which enters the inner side of the rubber.

A projection or ridge may be formed on the shank for the same purpose;but I do not limit myself to any particular mode of securing the springthereon. I prt "er the pin, for, being placed in a line with thedirection of the slot in the bottom of the shank, it assists theoperator in the insertion of the stud.

The ends of the spring D press against the inner side of the button-headand of the disk, and serve to press the shoulders of the barb againstthe inner side of the bottom of the shank and to keep the head and backplate apart, and thus secure the button when in use.

Instead of the depression in the inner side of the bottom of the shank,a thimble, cl, may be secured therein, fitting closely, and beingprovided with a recess on either side, in which the barb will rest.

It will be readily seen that the making of button-holes or any aperturesprevious to the securing of the button to the garment is obviated.

The operation is as follows: The head and back plate are detached orseparated, and the barb then forced or pierced through the material atthe desired point, and inserted into the shank and pressed therein toits full extent, and then a half-turn is made, and the shoulders willsink into the depression or recess made to receive them and rest there,and the pressure of the spring will keep the parts secured in place.

The utility of this device is apparent. A simple slot or cut is made bythe barb in the act of entering or piercing the garment or material.

All the friction to which the material around the opening is subjectedis merely that portion of it immediately being pressed by the ends ofthe spring and the inner face of the disk or back plate and around theshank ofthe barb, the barb or lance being securely incased or inclosedWithin the shank of the button.

Vhen the head Wears out or a change of style is desired, it can bereadily displaced and another substituted, and also when the disk orbarb breaks or becomes useless, new ones can take their place. I d0 notlimit myself to shape, size, or style.

A cheap button is thus made, which housekeepers can recommend, forsewing is obviated and a saving of time is effected thereby.

The spring D may be made of india-rubber, or it may be a metallic spiralspring, or a strip of spring steel or other suitable material, securedon the exterior or interior of the tubular shank in any suitable manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Leti ters Patent, is-

The barbed piercing-stud O, in combination with the rigid tubular shankof the button A and the spring D, and operating in the manner and forthe purpose herein specified.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 29th day ofMarch, 1866. JOHN M. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, EDWARD H. KNIGHT.

